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| Let us eat cake! |
Last Wednesday was my 27th birthday. It also marks approximately 8 years since the worst OCD breakdown of my life.
Right before college, when I was about to turn 19, I just lost it. I couldn't function because the fear from OCD and anxiety was so great. I thought the intrusive thoughts would never stop.
I had suicidal ideation - which for those of you outside the psychology world "is a term used by mental health professions to describe suicidal thoughts and feelings (without suicidal actions)." (This definition is from Natalie Staats Reiss, Ph.D. and Mark Dombeck, Ph.D.'s article "Defining Suicide", an interesting read for more information on different aspects of suicide.)
I was worried that I would feel that way forever. I didn't think I could handle it for the rest of my life.
But things got better.
I got help and have been slowly making progress for years. I've had my ups and downs, and some of the problems and fears from the past still plague me, but I have better tools to deal with them now.
So today I feel the triumph of living another year, fighting another day. Hopefully 27 will be the best year yet.
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| Tasting Tray! |
I had the most wonderful time at the Ohio wineries in Madison this weekend. My boyfriend and I stayed at the loveliest B&B called The Lost Pearl and went to a number of different wineries and did tastings (favorites including M Cellars and Laurentia).
Obviously wine is alcoholic (Many would say that is one of its best characteristics!) That being said, the thing about drinking when you're on OCD/anxiety medication is that you have to be very cognizant of what you're doing.
On certain medications you can't drink at all, and then on others you just have to be very careful.
Depending on your view, the tragedy or triumph is that certain pills can make you get drunk faster.
This alone wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, but the problem is drinking on pills may also just give you a tummy ache . Or worse. I had a friend in college who passed away from some deadly mix of drinking and Xanax. (If you are ever thinking of trying that combo - DON'T).
Ultimately, most of these drugs are serious business and they need to be treated that way. No matter what pills you're on, listen to what your doctor says. Alcohol/pill reactions are not something to mess around with.
